Tire liquefying process reactor discharge system and method

ABSTRACT

A discharge system is used with a tire liquefaction process using a reactor. The system includes a receiver receiving unreacted components, including oil coated metal from the reactor. The unreacted components are moved through a pyrolysis reactor where they are heated to a temperature sufficient to convert the unreacted hydrocarbon components to a liquid and to a gas by way of pyrolysis. The liquid and the majority of gas are drawn off from the pyrolysis reactor. Discharge apparatus connected to the pyrolysis reactor converts the remaining gas to a condensate and discharges the metal. The condensate is also removed for further use.

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/142,014 filed Oct. 28,1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,505.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to means and methods for dischargingunreacted components from a reaction process and, more particularly, todischarge unreacted components from a tire liquefying process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A discharge system is used with a tire liquefying process using areactor. The system includes a receiver receiving unreacted components,including oil coated metal, from the reactor. The unreacted componentsare moved through a pyrolysis reactor where they are heated to atemperature sufficient to convert the unreacted hydrocarbon componentsto a liquid and to gas by way of pyrolysis. The liquid and the majorityof gas are drawn off from the pyrolysis reactor. Discharge apparatusconnected to the pyrolysis reactor converts the remaining gas to acondensate and discharges the metal. The condensate is also removed forfurther use.

The object and advantages of the invention will appear more fullyhereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description whichfollows, taken together with the accompanying drawing, wherein oneembodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is tobe expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for illustrationpurposes only and is not to be construed as defining the limits of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The FIGURE is a graphical representation of a discharge systemconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawing, process reactor means 4, which may be of thetype described and disclosed in a U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/053,727, filed Apr. 27, 1993, is used to react tires and liquid oil,generally in the form of waste oil, to convert most hydrocarboncomponents of the tires to tire oil. However, in the process, there areunreacted components. Many of the shredded tires, if not all of theshredded tires, will have pieces of metal in them, either from the steelbelt, in the steel belted radial-type tires, or from the beading aroundthe edge of the tires. Further, there will also be other unreactedhydrocarbon components. The unreacted components are discharged fromprocess reactor means 4 through a discharge system of the presentinvention which includes a downward chute-type element 8 connected to apredominantly horizontally arranged conduit element 12. Although theterminology predominantly horizontal has been used, its only used todescribe conduit element 12 in spatial relationship to element 8 andother chute-type elements to follow. It is in fact, at a slight angleupward commencing from chute 8, sufficient to let a liquid flow downconduit element 12.

A screw auger 20 having a shaft 24 and a spiral-type blade 28 iscontinually rotated by drive means 33. Surrounding a portion of conduitelement 12 is a pyrolysis reactor 38. Pyrolysis reactor 38 is actually aplurality of electrical surface heaters manufactured by Watlow Inc.mounted on the outer surface of conduit element 12. The output of coils50 is wrapped around a non-vented portion of chute 45 and carry acooling liquid such as water as hereinafter explained. Chute 45 isvented with flared vents 49 at various locations and surrounding theventing portion of chute 45 is a chamber 53. Chamber 53 has a pipe 57connected to tank means 61. Tank means 61 has a discharge pipe 64including a valve 66.

Similarly, as noted earlier, the conduit element 12 is at one angle ofinclination; the bottom of chute 8 is at different angle of inclinationso that any fluid as hereinafter explained is directed towards a openinghaving a screen 70 covering the inlet to a pipe 74. Pipe 74 is connectedto another tank means 78 whose outlet pipe 80 includes a valve 84.

Further conduit element 12 has an outlet pipe 86 which causes themajority of the gas to be removed from conduit element 12 and providedto a condensor/collector not shown.

In operation as the unreacted components of the shredded tires fall fromprocess reactor means 4 through chute 8, where they are moved by screwauger 20 through conduit element 12 in a slightly upward directiontowards chute 45. In this process, the oil/metal mixture is heated bypyrolysis reactor 38 to a temperature in a temperature range of 900° F.to 1500° F. The unreacted hydrocarbon components are pyrolyzed into aliquid and gas. The liquid drains down conduit element 12 towards drain70 and passes through pipe 74 into tank means 78. As noted, the majorityof the gas leaves via pipe 86, however, the remaining gas and the metalcomponents keep moving upward towards chute 45. Gas accumulates in chute45 with some of it coming in contact with cool walls of chute 45.

Coils 50 are provided with a cooling liquid, which may be water or anyother type of liquid desired, causing a cool area on the surface ofchute 45 thereby causing condensing of the gas entering chute 45 to formcondensate on cooled walls 46 in that area. The condensate flows downwalls 46 and drains off at the various vents 49. As the condensate flowson the surface of vent 49, the flare-up causes the condensate to drip. Athermal syphon effect exists in the cooling position of chute 45 therebyfacilitating the condensation of the gas on walls 46. The liquid inchamber 53 passes through line 57 and into tank means 61.

Meanwhile, the metal components in chute 45 emerge from chute 45cleaned, dried and ready for recycling.

We claim:
 1. A discharge method associated with a tire liquefyingprocess using a process reactor, comprising the steps of:receivingunreacted hydrocarbons and metal components of tires from a tireliquefying process reactor through a first vertical conduit; moving theunreacted components with an auger screw means; heating the movingunreacted components to a temperature sufficient to convert theunreacted hydrocarbon components to a liquid and a gas by pyrolysis;drawing off the liquid; drawing off most of the gas; cooling theremaining gas after pyrolysis that is not drawn off to a condensate in avertical conduit with flared vent means; drawing off the condensate fromthe vertical conduit; and discharging unreacted metal components throughthe vertical conduit that is used to cool and condense the remaininggas.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said moving step comprises movingthe unreacted components through a tube oriented at a slight angle to ahorizontal plane and connected to said first, vertical conduit.
 3. Themethod of claim 2, wherein said moving step additionally comprisesmoving the unreacted components through said tube with an auger screw.4. The method of claim 3, wherein said discharging step comprisesdischarging said metal components through a second, vertical conduitconnected to said tube.
 5. A discharge system for a tire liquefyingprocess reacting tires and oil using a process reactor, comprising:meansfor receiving unreacted hydrocarbon and metal components of the tiresfrom a process reactor; a pyrolysis reactor connected to said receivingmeans, said pyrolysis reactor having means for moving said unreactedcomponents therethrough and means for heating the unreacted componentsto a temperature sufficient to convert the unreacted hydrocarboncomponents to a liquid and to a gas by way of pyrolysis; means fordrawing off the liquid and most of the gas from the pyrolysis reactor;means connected to said pyrolysis reactor for converting the remaininggas to a condensate; means connected to said converting means fordrawing off said condensate; and means connected to the pyrolysisreactor for discharging the metal components.
 6. The system of claim 5,wherein said receiving means comprises a first, vertical conduit forconveying said unreacted components to said pyrolysis reactor movingmeans.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein said pyrolysis reactor movingmeans comprises a tube oriented at a slight angle to a horizontal planeto allow fluid to flow due to gravity, said tube being connected to saidfirst, vertical conduit.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein saidpyrolysis reactor moving means comprises an auger screw within saidtube.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein said discharge means includes asecond, vertical conduit connected to said tube.
 10. The system of claim9, wherein said converting means comprises means for cooling the gasthat has entered the converting means from the tube to form acondensate.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein said converting meansadditionally comprises means for removing said condensate.